Press freedom

A collaboration between the Law School
and School of Communication and Arts

Law can threaten press freedom, and also protect it. How do we get the balance right?

Press freedom is central to the rule of law and free speech in a liberal democracy. In Australia, press freedom lacks the legal protection or recognition found elsewhere. This has allowed our laws to encroach on press freedom and led to a ‘chilling effect’ across public interest journalism.

In 2019, following successive police raids on journalists, Australia dropped 5 places (to 26) in the World Press Freedom Index. Whilst Australia was once the model for press freedom in the Asia-Pacific Region, Reporters Sans Frontiers’ reported that it “is now characterised by its threats to the confidentiality of sources and to investigative journalism.”

This project is part of a collaborative study between the UQ Schools of Law and Communications, combining legal analysis with on-the-ground research.

2020 Paul Bourke Presentation by Dr Rebecca Ananian-Welsh

11 September 2020 4:00pm–5:00pm
Video of presentation on Press Freedom & National Security by Rebecca Ananian-Welsh in conversation with Peter Greste

Protecting freedom of the press in Australia

Published on: 25 September 2020

Dr Rebecca Ananian-Welsh discusses the impact of national security and espionage laws on freedom of the press in Australia with Sarah Kendall for the first episode in the New Frontiers of Research series.
Australian Law Reform Commission | UQ webinar on Press Freedom

Published on: 10 September 2020

Video and wrap-up - On Monday 24 August 2020 the ALRC and UQ hosted a webinar with a panel of experts discussing the potential for a future ALRC inquiry into press freedom.
Security committee recommends bare minimum of reform to protect press freedom

Published on: 28 August 2020

Australia was once the model for press freedom in the Asia-Pacific. In 2019, Australia dropped five places in the World Press Freedom Index and widespread calls for law reform prompted two parliamentary inquiries into press freedom; the first of those inquiries has now reported.
When Trump attacks the press, he attacks the American people and their Constitution

Published on: 3 June 2020

Attack the press, and you attack the very system that has made places like the US and Australia among the safest and most prosperous in the world.
What did the High Court find in the Annika Smethurst v AFP case?

Published on: 22 April 2020

Rebecca Ananian-Welsh explains the latest High Court ruling in The Conversation.
The High Court rules in favour of News Corp, but against press freedom

Published on: 15 April 2020

The High Court appeared to uphold the principle of press freedom when it ruled that the warrant the Australian Federal Police used to search News Corp journalist Annika Smethurst’s home in 2019 was invalid, but another ruling effectively allowed the police to still use the evidence for any investigation and prosecution.